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Basketball lovers, unite! The annual NBA draft goes down tonight at Barclays Center, and judging by the outpour of excitement on Twitter, it’s going to be a crazy and emotional night at both the arena and NYC’s best sports bars.
It's #NBADraft Day!!! 🏀 pic.twitter.com/C74qXqaVqO
— Kenny Smith (@TheJetOnTNT) June 23, 2016
You can witness a selection of eligible players from both collegiate and international ranks achieve their dreams in-the-flesh by purchasing tickets ($36–$340) for the event here. But if you want to escape all the cheering and that hoot and hollering, you can stream the draft and watch in pure solitude here: WatchESPN at 7pm.
Since we live in the greatest city in the world, where there are a bazillion sports bars with projectors, big screen TV’s and most importantly, cable, we’ve taken the liberty to share 10 awesome and less-douchey watering holes that are showing the draft on screen (either with or without sound). So take your pick, New York.
Taproom No. 307
The NBA draft is a big draw here, but the beer comes first at this Kips Bay bar. The wood-framed joint serves 40 different craft beers on draught and upmarket bar fare (truffle fries, pesto pizza).
Keg & Lantern Brewing Company
Since this Greenpoint drinking den is part sports bar, part zen garden, there's a place to cool-off and get some fresh air (without leaving your beer behind) when you less than thrilled when a certain player is chosen for your favorite team.
Warren 77
This bar is not for NBA draft diehards, but if you care about socializing more than watching the fate of these fine athletes, this is your go-to. With frills like retro tabletop video games and green leather booths with TVs (which can be tucked away), you can expect a chill night here.
Bronx Alehouse
There are about a dozen flatscreens and one projector screen showing the NBA draft tonight, but without sound. (Bummer). So why go? Well, the joint has a massive beer selection, including 16 interchangeable taps and more than 30 bottles and cans available.
Jack Demsey's
Okay—so Irish pubs have played an integral role in giving sports bars a bad name. But Jack Demsey's bucks the odds. A 96-inch screen and a dozen other TVs will be streaming the draft tonight.
Banter
Here's the deal for this Williamsburg haunt—you'll have to ask the bartender to turn up the sound for the draft, but if you wanted to spend the evening noshing on savory pies and chugging beer from 24 taps, this one's a winner.
Syndicated
This bushwick dine-in movie theater, which offers $3 movies, will play the draft on the big screen above the bar. Best of all, happy-hour goes on until 8pm, so you can chug at least two or more beer-and-shot specials ($6) during the first hour of the show.
Carmine's Pizza
Eat a whole pie while watching the draft on multiple screens at this famous pizzeria (358 Graham Avenue, Brooklyn).
Ainsworth
This Chelsea spot will be playing the draft, but be warned: Nike is hosting a private party, so half of the bar will be closed off.
The Grayson
East Villagers have this ace option for watching the draft, but keep in mind that there won't be any sound.